Sealing means for feed and discharge conduits of centrifugal separator bowls



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 PlGii Feb. 10, 1948. JQNES SEALING MEANS FOR FEED AND DISCHARGE connun's 0F CENTRIFUGAL SEPARA'IOR BOWLS Filed'Feb. 4, 1943 Feb.10,1948. f L. JONES 2,435,941

Y SEALING" MEANS F R FEED AND DISCHARGE CONDUITS 7 OF CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATOR BOWLS Filed Feb. 4:,v 1943 7 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 "PIG/Z, I I 73 37 f T 1 I k 45 'u INVENTOR Leo 1). Jones.

ATTORNEY l with the rotor.

Patented Feb. 10, 1948 r 1 NT ornce SEALING M'EAN S FOR FEED AND DISCHARGE CONDUITS OF GEN BOWLS IRI FUGAL SEPARATOB Leo D. Jones, Philadelphia, Pa.. mlznor to The ,Sharples Corporation, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation oi Delaware Application February 4,1943. Serlal'No. 474,640 Claims. (01. 233-21) 1 This invention relates tothe art of centrifuges of either the "clariflerf or separator" type, and is concerned with problems. of feeding and discharging liquids from such machines.

The problems solved by the invention may be understood by reference to difliculties encountered in attempting to purify a liquid in a rotor of a centrifuge and discharge the purified liquid eflluent centrally from one end of the rotor into a discharge conduit through which it is impelled under the same source of pressure by which it is impelled to and through the rotor. Both the type of machine involved and the problem solved may be illustrated by reference to the patent to Meyer, 1,588,126.

As illustrated in the Meyer patent, the liquid to be purified is fed from a non-rotating conduit into the centrifugating space of the centrifugal rotor through a rotating tube or conduit coaxial The rotor is maintained full of liquid under pressure derived. from the impelling source of feed to the rotor and discharged from the rotor under pressure into a non-rotating conduit through a zone coaxial with the rotor. It is necessary in such a machine that suitable sealing means be provided between the feed and discharge tubes or conduits rotating with the rotor and the non-rotating conduits by which the liquid is fed to and carried away from these members. In the commercial development of this art, sealing members of the familiar hat type have been employed to accomplish this function.

While it is possible to design a machine of this type, which may be designated as the "full bowl type, by feed of liquid to one end of the rotor and discharge of the liquid from the opposite end,

2 that into which it is fed avoids complications of design which would beinvolved in discharging the liquid in the zone of the drive spindle, discharge from the feed end introduces and accenthe adoption of such arrangement necessarily complicates the driving connections to the centrifugal rotor, and problems presented in feeding and discharging from opposite ends present/particular difliculties in attempting to adapt the full bowl principle to machines of the tubular type driven by a flexible spindle. The present invention was designed primarily for use in connection with such a machine, and it employs the principle of feeding liquid to the rotor through a central tube or conduit'and discharging liquid from the rotor through a concentric tube or conduit surrounding the feed tube, just as in the Meyer patent, in order that the driving connections may remain uncomplicated by discharge of the liquid from the center of the rotor.

While the application'of the principle of discharging the liquid through a zone surrounding the feed tube from the same end of'the rotor as tuates other problemasuch as the problem of adequately sealing the connections between the non-rotating feed and discharge conduits and the rotating conduits with whichfthese nonrotating conduits communicate. The problem of providing adequate sealing is a diflicult one even in connection with a machine'of the typeillustrated by Meyer, and unusual difilculties are encountered in attempting to apply this general principle of feed and discharge to a machine of the tubular type while providing adequate sealing.

In the machine. of the present invention, the

end of the rotor through which liquid is passed into the separating space is yieidably mounted for movement in a direction which is transverse to the axis of rotation, and the packing member connecting the non-rotating feed conduit with the feed tube or conduit rotating with the rotor is mounted on a support which is transversely movable with the rotor, thereby retaining the rotating tube or conduit centralized with respect to the packing support regardless of transverse movement of the end of the rotor. In the same manner, the rotating discharge tube or conduit is associated with a sealing or packing member which is mounted on a support which is yieldably mounted for movement with the discharge end of the rotor transversely with respect to the axis of rotation, with the result that the packing support for the sealing connection between the stationary discharge conduit and the rotatable discharge tube or conduit is similarly maintained concentric with respect tothe rotating tube or conduit with which it is associated.

In the preferred form of the invention, the rotating discharge conduit is arranged concentrically about the rotating feed conduit, and the packing connections which interconnect the stationary and rotating feed and discharge conduits, respectively, are mounted upon a common support which is mounted for yieldable movement with the yieldably mounted end of the rotor into tions of the invention, and

Figure 2 is a detailed cross section through the 1 feeding, discharging, and sealing connections.

In the preferred form of the invention, the machine constitutes a rotor II) which receives liquid from a non-rotating feed conduit II which communicates with the rotating feed tube or conduit I3, forming an extension of the rotor, through the space within connection I2 constituting an extension of the feed conduit II. An extension I4 of the downwardly extending rotating conduit I3 projects longitudinally through the centrifugating space of the rotor and terminates toward the upper end of the rotor at I5.

Liquid discharged into the centrifu ating space of the rotor through the upper end I5 of the extension I4 of the rotating feed tube or conduit I3 may be brought up to rotor speed and maintained at that speed by a plurality of accelerator wings I6, and this liquid flows longitudinally ina direction opposite to the flow through the extension I4, being subjected to the action of centrifugal force during its flow downwardly into the discharge channel I1, which may surround the rotating feedconduit I3 and be formed by the space between the inner circumference of the boss I9 of the base of the rotor and the outer circumference of the feed tube I3. This rotating discharge channel may be provided with wings I8, and liquid discharged 'from this channel through the connection 20 is passed into the stationary discharge conduit 2| of which the connection 20 forms an extension.

In the design of the machine in accordance with the present invention, the centrifugal rotor I0 may be driven through a spindle connection to the neck portion 22 .at the top of the rotor, and the boss I9 at the base of the rotor may be mounted within a bearing consisting of a snubbing or drag assembly 23, which performs the same function with respect to snubbing or yieldably resisting movements of the base of the rotor transversely with respect to the axis of rotation as illustrated and described in Bath Patent 1,750,154, Ayres Patent 1,737,137 and the patent to P. T. Sharples, 1,445,722. This drag assembly may be secured in position by the flange 33 of a shell or housing 24 secured to the base of the stationary frame of the centrifuge, The bearing support 25 is mounted for yieldable transverse movement, and a flange 32 at the base of this bearing support abuts the upper surface of the flange 33, being yieldably held thereagainst by the spring 30.. A bushing 26 occupies the space between the inner circumference of the support 25 and the outer circumference of the boss I 9 of the rotor, and this bushing is retained in place between an inwardly extending flange on the upper end of the bearing support 25 and an inwardly extending flange 28 on the upper end of a cylindrical housing 29 secured in threaded relationship to the lower portion of the support 25. The spring 30 is interposed between an inwardly extending flange 3| on the lower end of the frame of the rotor and the outwardly extending flange 32 on the lower end of the bearing support 25, and this spring exerts pressure downwardly on the flange 32 against the upper surface of the inwardly extending flange 33 of the shell or housing 24 to create afr'iction resulting in yieldable resistance to movement of the bearing support 25 transversely with respect to the shell or housing 24. The flange 32 terminates fairly within the surrounding cylindrical surface of the lower portion of the rotor frame in order to provide clearance for transverse movement of this flange, and thus permit the lower end of the rotor a slight transverse movement under forces generated incident to rotation of the rotor.

By inspection of the drawing, it will be seen that the entire drag assembly, including the cylindrical housing 29, is movable transversely of the axis of the rotor upon siimlar movement of the boss l-9 of the rotor. Animportant feature of the invention consists in the fact that the sealing or packing connections are mounted for transverse movement together with the drag assembly. The upper end of the non-rotating feed conduit II' is secured for transverse movement with cylindrical housing 29 by threaded engagement between the wall 35 of the connection I2 and a packing supporting member 34 secured to that housing. A rubber, or other flexible, packing or sealing member 36 of the familiar hat" type has an annular flange mounted between the upper end of the member 35 and an overhanging flange 3i extending inwardly from the packing supporting member 34, clearance being allowed between the upper end of member 35 and the lower surface of the flange 31 for a purpose to be explained hereinafter. The lower end- (not shown) of conduit l I is flexibly secured to the member from which it receives liquid in order to permit this movement with the drag assembly. A cylindrically extending portion of the sealing member 36 surrounds the depending rotating feed conduit II and prevents leakage between the inner surface of this cylindrical portion and the outer surface of the conduit I3.

A second sealing ring 38, which may be similar to the ring 36, is mounted at the lower end of connection 29, and serves to prevent discharged liquid from leaking into the feed zone. The annular flange of this sealing member is loosely held between the upper surface of flange 31 and the lower surface of a retaining ring 39 which is held in place by a snap-ring 49. The cylindrical portion of ring 38 extends toward the main body of the rotor and surrounds conduit I3,

A third ring 4|, which is generally similar to rings 36 and 38, has a flange secured between the bottom surface of flange 28 of the cylindrical housing 29 and the upper surface of a retaining ring 42 which is loosely held in place by a snapring 43. The cylindrical "portion of the flexible ring 4! extends away from the main body of the rotor and surrounds the lower end of the boss I9.

In operation, when liquid is fed into conduit II under pressure, into connection I2, the pressure of this liquid against the exterior and lower surfaces of the sealing member .36 forces the inner and upper surfaces of this member. into tight sealing engagement with coacting surfaces on the exterior of the rotating feed conduit I3 and the lower side of the flange 31. Liquid fed into the connection 12 is thus forced through the feed tube or conduit I3 and its extension M'into the upper portion of the rotor and is purified during passage downwardly through the rotor into the discharge conduit I'l. Liquid discharged from the lower end of the conduit I1 is prevented from leaking through the space surrounding this conduit by the sealing ring 4|, and is Prevented from leaking downwardly through the space surrounding conduit I3 by the ring 38. The pressure on the liquid discharged from the lower end of the conduit II, as it enters the connection 20, forces the ring 38.into sealing engagement with conduit I3 and the upper surface of flange and the ring I into sealing engagement with the outer surface of the boss l9 and the lower surface of the flange 28 of the cylindrical housing 29. It will thus be seen that the sealing action of the ring 36 directs liquid into the conduit l3, and that the sealing action of the rings 38 and H directs liquid into the discharge conduit 2| from the space 20, since these directions of movement of the liquid constitute the only free path through which it may flow.

It will be seen that the cylindrical housing and other portions of the supporting members for the sealing rings are mounted for transverse movement with the movable portion oi. the drag mechanism of the centrifugal rotor. By reason of this fact, the supports for the sealing rings 38, 38 and I are maintained concentric with the axis evenwhen this axis shifts by reason of transverse movement of the boss at the base of therotor. The supports for the sealing rings are thus mounted for movement yieldably with the rotor boss in a direction which is transverse with respect to the axis of the rotor.

A pin M is secured to the flange 28 of the cylindrical housing 29 and extends downwardly into a hole 45 in the upper end of the sealing ring ll. This pin prevents'rotation of the sealing ring with the rotor boss l9.lying within the cyllndrically extending portion of the ring. The hole 45 is somewhat larger in a radial direction than the portion or the pin Mv which it surrounds, with the resuitthat at least a small amount of free play of the ring 4| is allowed in a radial. direction. The outer circumferences ofthe rings 36 and 38 are somewhat smaller than the surfaces which surround them, and these rings, as well as the ring 4!, are allowed a certain amount of free playalong the axis of the ing the end of said rotor into which passed from said sealing connection yieldably liquid is for movement transversely of said rotor axis, and non-rotating means mounted for transverse movement with said end of said rotor for supporting said -sealing member;

2. In a centrifugathe combination comprising a non-rotating discharge-receiving conduit, a centrifugal rotor, a conduit rotating with said rotor and interconnected with said rotor and said non-rotating conduit to deliver liquid received from said rotor under pressure from said rotating conduit into said non-rotating conduit, a non-rotating sealing member formed of flexible material and providing a yieidable sealing connection between said rotating and non-rotating conduits, and means supporting the end of said rotor from which liquid is passed in flowing from said rotating conduit to said non-rotating conduit yieldably for movement transversely of said rotor axis, and non-rotating means mounted for transverse movement with said end of said rotor for supporting said sealing member.

3. In a centrifuge, the combination comprising a non-rotating conduit, a centrifugal rotor, a conduit rotating with said rotor and interconnected with said first-mentioned conduit and said rotor to receive liquid under pressure from said firstmentioned conduit and direct said liquid into said rotor, a second conduit rotating with said rotor and interconnected with said rotor to receive liquid therefrom, a second non-rotating conduit I interconnected with said second rotating conduit rotor by the looseness with which they are held between the surfaces which position them. As a consequence of this, the rings 36, 38 and ti are free to move radially with respect to their supporting surfaces. These rings may thus move into sealing contact with the conduits which they surround, even in cases of somewhat irregular wear of the rings or inaccurate mounting of the rings with respect to the rotor axis. The mounting of the rings loosely in this manner, instead of securing their flanges in fixed positions, obviates the necessity of manufacture of these parts of the machine to the degree of accuracy which would otherwise be required. An Y outlet passage 46 is provided between the sealing "members 36 and 38 to permit liquid from the feedzone which may leak past the sealing member 36 to be discharged downwardly, thereby eliminating the possibility of leakage of this liquid further upwardly past the sealing member 38 with resulting contamination of the discharged liquid by liquid which has not been centrifugally purified. I

7 Various modifications are possiblewithin the scope of the invention, and I do not therefore wish to be limited except by the following claims.

I claim: 1. In a centrifuge, the combination comprising a non-rotating conduit, acentrifugal rotor, a

' conduit rotating with said rotor and interconnected with said first-mentioned conduit and said rotor to receive liquid under pressure from said first-mentioned conduit and direct said liquid into said rotor, a non-rotating sealing member formed of flexible material and providing a yieldable sealing connection between said rotat ing and non-rotating conduits, means supportond non-rotating sealing member formed of flex ible material and providing a second yieidable scal'ng connection between said second-mentioned rotating and non-rotating conduits, means supporting an end of said rotor yieldably for movement transversely of the rotor axis, and nonrotating means mounted for transverse movement with said end of said rotor for supporting one of said sealing members.

4. In a centrifuge, the combination comprising a non-rotating conduit, a centrifugal rotor, a conduit rotating with said rotor and adapted to receive liquid under pressure from said first-mentioned conduit and direct said liquid into said rotor, a second conduit rotating with said rotor and surrounding said first-mentioned rotating conduit and adapted to receive liquid from said rotor and discharge said liquid from the same end of said rotor into which said liquid is fed, a sec-- .ond non-rotating conduit adapted to receive liquid discharged from saidsecond rotating conduit, a non-rotating sealing member forming a sealing connection between said first-mentioned rotating and non-rotating conduits, a second non-rotating sealing member forming a second sealing connection between said second-mentioned rotating and non-rotating conduits, means supporting an end of said rotor yieldably for movement .transversely of the rotor axis, and non-rotating means rotor, a second conduit rotating with said rotor and surrounding said first-mentioned rotating conduit and adapted to receive liquid from said rotor and discharge said liquid from the same end of said rotor into which said liquid is fed, a second non-rotating conduit adapted to receive l'quid discharged from said second rotating conduit, a non-rotating flexible sealing member forming a sealing connection between said first-mentioned rotating and non-rotating conduits, a second non-rotating flexible sealing member forming a second sealing connection between said secondmentioned rotatingLand non-rotating conduits, means supporting an end of said rotor yieidabiy for movement transversel of the rotor axis, and non-rotating means mounted for transverse movement with said end of said rotor for supporting both of said sealing members.

6. In a centrifuge, the combination comprising a non-rotating conduit, a centrifugal rotor, a conduit rotating with said rotor and adapted to receive liquid under pressure from said first-mentioned conduit and direct said liquid into said rotor, a second conduit rotating with said rotor and surrounding said first-mentioned conduit and adapted to receive liquid from said rotor and discharge said liquid from the same end of said rotor into which said liquid is fed, a second non-rotating conduit adapted to receive liquid discharged from said second rotating conduit, a non-rotating flexible sealing member'surrounding said first-mentioned rotating conduit and forming a sealing connection between said first-mentioned rotating conduit and said first-mentioned non-rotating conduit, a second non-rotating sealing member surrounding said second-mentioned rotating conduit and forming a sealing connection between said second-mentioned rotating conduit and said second-mentioned non-rotating conduit, and a'third non-rotating flexible sealing member surrounding said first-mentioned rotating conduit and forming a sealing connection between said first-mentioned rotating conduit and said second-mentioned non-rotating conduit at the zone of discharge of liquid from said second-mentioned rotating conduit.

7. In a centrifuge, the combination comprising a non-rotating conduit, a centrifugal rotor, a conduit rotating with said rotor and interconnected with said first-mentioned conduit and said rotor to-receive liquid under pressure from said firstmentioned conduit and direct said liquid into said rotor, a non-rotating sealing member having a flange portion and acylindrical portion surrounding said rotating conduit, said sealing member being formed of flexible material and providing a yieidabie sealing connection between said rotating and non-rotating conduits, means upporting.

the end of said rotor into which liquid is passed from said sealing connection yieldably for movement transversely of said rotor axis, and nonrotating means mounted for transverse movement with said end of said rotor for supporting the flange portion of said sealing member.

8. In a centrifuge, the combination comprising, a non-rotating discharge-receiving conduit, a centrifugal rotor, a conduit rotating with said rotor and interconnected with said rotor and said non-rotating conduit to deliver liquid received from said rotor under pressure from said rotating conduit into said non-rotating conduit, a non-rotating sealing member having a flange portion and a cylindrical portion. surrounding said rotating conduit, said sealing member being 8 formed 01' flexible material and'providing a yieldable sealing connection between said rotating and non-rotating conduits, and means s pporting the end of said rotor from which liquid is passed in flowing from said rotating conduit to said non-rotating conduit yieldably for movement transversely of said rotor axis, and nonrotating means mounted for transverse movement with said end of said rotor for supporting the flange portion of said sealing member.

9. In a centrifuge, the combination comprising a non-rotating conduit, a centrifugal rotor, a conduit rotating with said rotor and adapted to receive liquid under pressure from said firstmentioned conduit and direct said liquid into said rotor, a second rotor and surrounding said first-mentioned rotating conduit and adapted to receive liquid from said rotor and discharge said liquid from the same end of said rotor-into which said liquid is fed, a second non-rotating conduit adapted to receive liquid discharged 'from said second rotating conduit, a non-rotating sealing member having a flange portion and a cylindrical portion surrounding said first-mentioned rotating conduit, said sealing member forming a sealing connection between said first-mentioned rotating and non-rotating conduits, a second non-rotating sealing member having a flange portion and a cylindrical portion surrounding said secondmentioned rotating conduit, said second sealing member forming a second sealing connection between said second-mentioned rotating and nonrotating conduits, means supporting an end of said rotor yieldably for movement transversely of the rotor axis, and non-rotating means mounted for transverse movement with said end of said rotor for supporting the flange portions of both of said sealing members.

10. In a centrifuge, the combination comprising a non-rotating conduit, a centrifugal rotor, a conduit rotating with said rotor and adapted to receive liquid under pressure from said first-mentioned conduit and direct said liquid into said rotor, a second conduit rotating with said rotor and surrounding said first-mentioned rotating conduit and adapted to receive liquid from said rotor and discharge said liquid from the same end of said rotor into which said liquid is fed, a second non-rotating conduit adapted to receive liquid discharged from said second rotating conduit, a non-rotating sealing member forming a sealing connection between said first-mentioned rotating and non-rotating conduits, a secmember forming a second sealing connection between said secondmentioned rotating and non-rotating conduits, and non-rotating means for supporting both of said sealing members for limited movement transversely with respect to the rotor axis.

LEO D. JONES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS conduit rotating with said 

